Letters To The Editor

June 20, 2004

No Case For

Impeachment

What evidence is there in the Rowland gift-giving/receiving scandal that any of the donors or recipients significantly underperformed on contracts, corruptly used the gifts or favors in a manner blatantly contrary to the public interest, seriously failed to responsibly carry out their public duties or otherwise importantly harmed the state taxpayers?

So far, I have failed to read anything about Gov. John G. Rowland, the Tomasso folks, Robert Matthews, Peter Ellef, Anthony Cocchiola, Christine and Paul Corey, or Kathleen Mengacci -- to cite a few examples -- cheating the government or bilking us taxpayers.

I share the view that Gov. Rowland was truly stupid to ruin his two-plus terms' reputation as having been, by and large, a pretty good governor, despite some really bad mistakes (such as Enron, Agbar). But I fail to see the case against him as having enough merit to warrant our throwing him out before he finishes his third term.

It would be much less disruptive to our fine state to have the House and the Senate vote to strongly censure him for this rotten behavior that is so damaging to the state's reputation; insist on its immediate cessation; and let him get on with his job in a manner that would command our respect.

Gerald R. Daly

Glastonbury

Iraq's

Terrorist Ties

I am discouraged by incorrect information in the June 18 editorial about the 9/11 commission's report on Iraq and Al Qaeda [``Holes In Rationale For War''].

The Courant says that the commission reported that ``there was no credible evidence of links between Iraq and al-Qaida.''

This is not the case. The commission stated that there is no connection between Iraq and the 9/11 attacks. There have been many contacts between Iraq and al-Qaida. Indeed, both commission co-chairmen reiterated that fact, along with substantially agreeing with the Bush administration regarding Iraq and al-Qaida.

The Courant says the facts ``contradict the assertion by President Bush just before bombing Baghdad that `Saddam Hussein has long-standing, direct and continuing ties to terrorist networks.'''

This is absurd. Hussein had longstanding ties to Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad and others, and paid rewards to families of suicide bombers in Israel. This is a well-known fact that has been widely reported.

The commission, to be clear, said Iraq was not involved with the events of 9/11. It does not say that Iraq was not involved in terrorism.

These misconceptions lead The Courant ``to question whether the war [in Iraq] itself actually diverted personnel and resources from what should be the main goal -- eliminating terrorism.''

This again is misleading. The United States is not in a war only against the 9/11 hijackers, the Taliban or al-Qaida. They are part of the enemy but not the whole enemy. It is a war against terrorism.

Because Iraq was a major backer of terrorists, and its regime was dedicated to undermining U.S. interests abroad and at home, attacking Iraq was attacking terrorism.

On Friday, Reuters quoted Russian President Vladimir Putin saying that prior to the Iraq war, he had informed Bush that Iraq was planning attacks in the United States.

Vincent Giandurco

Fairfield

Disturbing

Flight Route

The most disturbing aspect of the 9/11 report [Page 1, June 18, ``Air Defenses Lacking''] is that, apparently, these conditions still exist.

Several weeks ago, friends of mine in Arlington, Va., drove me down to the Pentagon. I was aghast to see commercial airliners descending over the building at about 100 feet as they completed their approach to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

It would be as easy as one terrorist stealing a plane, starting the approach to Reagan and suddenly dipping the control stick downward. Pentagone.

And the highjacker would not even have to deviate from the established flight plan.

Paul A. Donais

Glastonbury

Startling CEO Numbers

A June 3 Courant article reported that the average salary for women CEOs is only 63 percent of that for men [Page 1, ``Women's, Men's Pay Still Distant Cousins'']. A June 8 Courant section [Courant 100] listed the CEOs for the 100 largest public Connecticut companies. There were just three female CEOs on the list. In fact, the names Charles, David, James, John, Joseph, Marc, Michael, Robert, Steven and William were each at least as frequent as all female names combined.

These two articles are an astonishing depiction of the enormous gender disparity among executives of large corporations.

Thomas P. Hettinger

Harwinton

Common Ground

A Good Fit

I am writing in response to the article ``Selectmen Don't Like Hotel Hooker Proposal'' [Connecticut section, June 17]. Common Ground is the best thing that could happen to the former Hotel Hooker.

I graduated from Eastern Connecticut State University in 2003, and remember well all the controversy surrounding the Hotel Hooker, its residents and what went on there. Change is needed and supportive housing is an excellent start.